Middlesbrough have completed the signing of former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes after manager Aitor Karanka impressed his fellow Spaniard with his plans for next season. Boro have also been offered the chance to sign Holland international Robin van Persie, but are unlikely to follow up their initial interest in the 32-year-old, who has been told he can leave Fenerbahce. Karanka has been one of the busiest managers in the Premier League as he looks to improve the squad promoted from the Championship last season … [Read more...]
Arsenal set to make a move for United target Matuidi
Arsenal are set to make a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea. Reports claim that Matuidi is eager to play in England – but will only consider offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, United and Tottenham. The Frenchman has been looking to manufacture a move to the Premier League, and according to recent reports he flew to England with the permission of Didier Deschamps and PSG to discuss a move. It is thought PSG have decided to let Matuidi move on … [Read more...]
Ibe set for £15m Bournemouth move
Liverpool are understood to have accepted a £15million bid from Bournemouth for winger Jordon Ibe. Ibe has been given permission to speak to the Cherries after a 2015-16 season that saw him make only 12 Premier League starts for the Reds. The 20-year-old has been with Liverpool since joining from Wycombe in 2011. Ibe, who has a total of 58 Liverpool appearances to his name, made his Reds first-team debut on the final day of the 2012-13 Premier League season. He spent time on loan with Birmingham during the following campaign, then … [Read more...]
Ozil to Koscielny: we are not Iceland
Mesut Ozil says he has told Arsenal teammate Laurent Koscielny that Germany "are not Iceland" in a text message ahead of their Euro 2016 semifinal with France. The match is set to see Ozil come up against Gunners teammates Koscielny and Olivier Giroud, and the Germany playmaker says the trio have been keeping in contact ahead of the clash. Germany reached the last four with a penalty shootout win over Italy while France thrashed tournament debutants Iceland 5-2, and Ozil told kicker: "We are still teasing each other. "After the … [Read more...]
Juventus set to hold talks with Chelsea over Juan Cuadrado future
The 28-year-old enjoyed a resurgent season at the Bianconeri last term with both the player and club intent on continuing the relationship. Serie A champions Juventus are set to hold talks with Premier League club Chelsea over the future of Juan Cuadrado as the Turin side prepare for a summer bid for the winger. The Colombian international’s rise to stardom at Fiorentina saw him complete a move to the Stamford Bridge outfit on a four-and-a-half year deal back in February 2015. However, Cuadrado was shipped off to Juventus at the … [Read more...]
Chelsea ready to chase Lionel Messi
If the Argentine doesn’t sign a new deal at the Camp Nou, coupled with complications in relation to tax issues, it could open the door to a move to England. Chelsea has joined Manchester City in the race to sign Barcelona forward Lionel Messi after his father was pictured on Roman Abramovich’s yacht. Messi has been handed a 21-month prison sentence after a court in Barcelona found them guilty on three counts of tax fraud, amounting to €4.1 million. Any fee to sign the Argentine would be over €117m, whilst Messi’s father, Jorge, has met with … [Read more...]
West Ham switch to Liverpool misfit after Tevez snub
Crystal Palace face competition from West Ham for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke after talks to bring back Carlos Tevez broke down. The 32-year-old Argentine striker is a cult hero amongst Hammers fans after his goal-scoring streak of seven goals in the last 10 games of the 2006/07 season helped keep West Ham in the Premier League. Hammers co-chairman David Gold revealed that the club did try and make an emotional return happen this summer, but Tevez’s excessive wage demands means the deal was never likely to happen. “We tried to … [Read more...]
Nianggolan snubs Chelsea for Roma stay
The 28-year-old has been away at Euro 2016 , but following Belgium's exit Nainggolan has dispelled rumours over his future. Reports have it that Chelsea have been chasing the midfielder with new boss Antonio Conte keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge. Nainggolan further demonstrated his top talent with two stunning strikes in five games for Belgium at the Euros. And Chelsea continued their efforts to sign him during the tournament but had a third bid of £33million rejected by Roma last week, according sources. With the Italians … [Read more...]
Sakho to have hearing on thursday
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will plead his case against a suspension for a failed drugs test to UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Thursday. The France international tested positive for a ‘fat burner’ after the Reds’ Europa League tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford in March. He served a provisional 30-day suspension after opting not to have his B sample tested – meaning he missed the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla and selection for Euro 2016 – but the initial ban was not extended as UEFA launched an … [Read more...]
Chelsea set to launch bid for Alvaro Morata
Alvaro Morata returned to Real Madrid this summer, but Los Blancos may still decide to cash in on the youngster. With new Chelsea coach Antonio Conte looking to significantly strengthen the squad he has inherited at Stamford Bridge, reports have now emerged that the Italian is considering making a serious offer for Alvaro Morata. Morata recently returned to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu during the close season, after Real Madrid exercised their right to buy back the 23-year-old from Juventus for fee of €32 million. However, with Karim … [Read more...]
Ex-United players Ronaldo and Nani on target to send Portugal into Euro 2016 final
Portugal will face hosts France or Germany in the final of Euro 2016 after bringing to an end Wales’ impressive run with a 2-0 win in their semi-final clash in Lyon. The match had been billed in some quarters as a private duel between Real Madrid team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, and the Portuguese won it hands down after a cagey and scoreless first period. Ronaldo scored with a bullet header five minutes after the break and then quickly set up Nani as Portugal ran out convincing 2-0 winners. This has been a tournament where … [Read more...]